Having watched Patrick Vieira dominate our midfield in the past, William Saliba says it is a great honour to inherit the famous No 4.
Our French centre back grew up admiring his compatriot - but says it was another legendary Gunner that he had on the back of his shirt as a kid.
"I had an Arsenal jersey when I was little with Thierry Henry [on the back], so I liked the club since then," Saliba said. "Now I am very proud to have the Arsenal jersey.
"I don't know why [I got it]! I went in the shop, and I only wanted Arsenal. I liked Vieira and Thierry Henry because I was little and I only knew the French players and they were very good.
"I am very, very proud to have the number four, so I have to be ready to carry number four."
It is not only Vieira who has worn the No 4, but fellow captains such as Per Mertesacker and Cesc Fabregas - so could Saliba take the armband eventually too?
"I hope, I hope... I hope one day, maybe!" he said. "I am very happy to be here, with good team-mates and with a good badge like Arsenal, so I am very excited and I think it is good to be here."
Copyright 2023 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
